# List of volcanic eruptions 1500–2000

This is a list of notable volcanic eruptions in the 16th to 20th centuries with a Volcanic explosivity index (VEI) of 4 or higher, and smaller eruptions that resulted in significant damage or fatalities. Note that there may be uncertainties to dates with historical eruptions, and there are likely to be many large eruptions that have not been identified.

## Large eruptions (VEI of 4 or higher)
### 20th century

| VEI | Volcano | Country | Year | Fatalities | Notes |
| 4 | Ulawun | Papua New Guinea | 2000 | | |
| 4 | Mount Tavurvur | Papua New Guinea | 1994 | 5 | Tavurvur, and nearby Vulcan, erupted and devastated Rabaul; however, due to planning for such a catastrophe, the townsfolk were prepared and only five people were killed. One of the deaths was caused by lightning, a feature of volcanic ash clouds. |
| 4 | Láscar | Chile | 1993 | | |
| 4 | Mount Spurr | Alaska, United States | 1992 | | |
| 5 | Mount Hudson | Chile | 1991 | | |
| 6 | Mount Pinatubo | Philippines | 1991 | 847 | Second largest eruption of the 20th century, and largest stratospheric disturbance since the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa. Many deaths were caused by complication of the arrival of Typhoon Yunya. |
| 4 | Kelud | Indonesia | 1990 | 32 | A strong and explosive eruption in early February 1990 produced a 12 km high column of tephra, heavy tephra falls and several pyroclastic flows. 32 people were killed, over 500 homes and 50 schools were destroyed and many others were damaged. |
| 4 | Klyuchevskaya Sopka | Russia | 1987 | | |
| 4 | Chikurachki | Russia | 1986 | | |
| 4 | Augustine | Alaska, United States | 1986 | | |
| 4 | Mount Colo | Indonesia | 1983 | | |
| 4 | Galunggung | Indonesia | 1982 | 18 | Notable for bringing attention to the dangers of volcanic ash on aircraft after two Boeing 747 jets suffered engine failure from its ash cloud. |
| 5 | El Chichón | Mexico | 1982 | 1,900 | 9 villages were destroyed, killing at least 1,900 people. Ejected 7 million metric tons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. |
| 4 | North Pagan | Mariana Islands, United States | 1981–1985 | | |
| 4 | Vulkan Alaid | Russia | 1981 | | |
| 5 | Mount St. Helens | Washington, United States | 1980 | 57 | Most deadly and economically destructive volcanic eruption in the history of the United States. Ash from the eruption reached all the way to Montana. Casualties were limited, owing to the evacuation of the surrounding forest, with exception of loggers who did not depart in time; incinerated in large forest fire that was a result of one of seventeen pyroclastic flows. Sound of eruption could be heard 700 miles (1127 km) away; entire flank of mountain collapsed. Noted for extremely large lahar that flooded the banks of the Toutle River and destroyed several bridges. |
| 4 | Augustine | Alaska, United States | 1976 | | |
| 4 | Tolbachik | Russia | 1975 | | |
| 4 | Volcán de Fuego | Guatemala | 1974 | | |
| 4 | Tyatya | Russia | 1973 | | |
| 4 | Fernandina | Ecuador | 1968 | | |
| 4 | Mount Awu | Indonesia | 1966 | | |
| 4 | Kelud | Indonesia | 1966 | | |
| 4 | Taal | Philippines | 1965 | | |
| 4 | Shiveluch | Russia | 1964 | | |
| 5 | Mount Agung | Indonesia | 1963 | 1,584 | |
| 5 | Bezymianny | Russia | 1955–1957 | | |
| 4 | Carran-Los Venados | Chile | 1955 | | |
| 4 | Mount Spurr | Alaska, United States | 1953 | | |
| 4 | Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 1952 | | |
| 4 | Kelud | Indonesia | 1951 | | |
| 4 | Mount Lamington | Papua New Guinea | 1951 | 2,942 | The only recorded eruption of Mount Lamington devastated Oro Province. Pyroclastic flows caused extreme destruction north of the volcano. Its effects were extensively studied by volcanologist Tony Taylor and his report was published in 1958. |
| 4 | Ambrym | Vanuatu | 1950 | | |
| 4 | Hekla | Iceland | 1947 | | |
| 4 | Sarychev Peak | Russia | 1946 | | |
| 4 | Avachinsky | Russia | 1945 | | |
| 4 | Parícutin | Mexico | 1943–1952 | 3 | 1943–1952 eruption of Parícutin |
| 4 | Rabaul | Papua New Guinea | 1937 | 507 | |
| 4 | Kuchinoerabu-jima | Japan | 1933–1934 | 8 | 8 people were killed and 26 others were injured. Nanakama Village was burned by fire from glowing blocks. |
| 4 | Suoh | Indonesia | 1933 | | Occurred two weeks after the 1933 Sumatra earthquake, which produced a surface rupture on the volcano. |
| 5 | Kharimkotan | Russia | 1933 | | |
| 5 | Cerro Azul | Chile | 1932 | | It is the largest recorded eruption in the history of Chile, the eruption threw ash between the cities of Rancagua and Chillán, leaving them in the dark in broad daylight. The explosions were noticeable in Santiago, 245 km away. The ashes arrived in Buenos Aires (capital of Argentina), Montevideo (capital of Uruguay), the south of Brazil and South Africa. |
| 4 | Volcán de Fuego | Guatemala | 1932 | | |
| 4 | Mount Aniakchak | Alaska, United States | 1931 | | |
| 4 | Klyuchevskaya Sopka | Russia | 1931 | | |
| 4 | Hokkaidō Koma-ga-take | Japan | 1929 | | |
| 4 | Avachinsky | Russia | 1926 | | |
| 5 | Submarine Volcano NNE of Iriomote Island | Japan | 1924 | | Submarine Volcano |
| 4 | Raikoke | Russia | 1924 | | |
| 4 | Manam | Papua New Guinea | 1919 | | |
| 4 | Kelud | Indonesia | 1919 | 5,160 | Lahars killed over 5,000 people. |
| 4 | Katla | Iceland | 1918 | | |
| 4 | Tungurahua | Ecuador | 1916 | | |
| 4 | Sakurajima | Japan | 1914 | 58 | Most powerful eruption in Japan in the twentieth century. The volcano had been dormant for over a century until 1914. Almost all residents had left the island in the previous days; several large earthquakes had warned them that an eruption was imminent. Initially, the eruption was very explosive, generating eruption columns and pyroclastic flows, but after a very large earthquake on 13 January 1914, which killed 58 people, it became effusive, generating a large lava flow. |
| 4 | Volcán de Colima | Mexico | 1913 | | |
| 6 | Novarupta | Alaska, United States | 1912 | | Largest eruption of the 20th century |
| 4 | Lolobau | Papua New Guinea | 1911 | | |
| 5 | Ksudach | Russia | 1907 | | |
| 4 | Mount Vesuvius | Italy | 1875–1906 | 216 | |
| 4 | Lolobau | Papua New Guinea | 1904 | | |
| 4 | Þórðarhyrna | Iceland | 1903 | | |
| 6 | Santa María | Guatemala | 1902 | 6,000 | 1902 eruption of Santa María |
| 4 | Mount Pelée | Island of Martinique, French Overseas Territory, France | 1902 | 33,000 | Deadliest eruption of the 20th century and the deadliest natural disaster in the history of France. Destroyed Saint-Pierre, Martinique. Only 2 people survived this eruption with 1 being held as a prisoner and was locked underground avoiding the pyroclastic flows. |
| 4 | La Soufrière | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1902 | 1,700 | 1,700 people were killed and a further 600 people were injured or burned. At least 4,000 people were left homeless. |

### 19th century

| VEI | Volcano | Country | Year | Fatalities | Notes |
| 4 | Doña Juana | Colombia | 1899 | | |
| 4 | Mount Mayon | Philippines | 1897 | 350–400 | |
| 4 | Calbuco | Chile | 1893–1894 | | |
| 4 | Suwanosejima | Japan | 1889 | | |
| 4 | Volcán de Colima | Mexico | 1889 | | |
| 4 | Mount Bandai | Japan | 1888 | 477+ | 1888 eruption of Mount Bandai |
| 4 | Niuafo'ou | Tonga | 1886 | | |
| 5 | Mount Tarawera | New Zealand | 1886 | 108+ | Largest historical eruption in New Zealand |
| 4 | Tungurahua | Ecuador | 1886 | 2 | |
| 4 | Augustine | Alaska, United States | 1883–1884 | | Augustine has had six significant eruptions: 1812, 1883–1884, 1935, 1963–1964, 1976, and 1986. Only the 1883 eruption produced a tsunami. |
| 6 | Krakatoa | Indonesia | 1883 | 36,417 | The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was one of the loudest explosions ever recorded, and was heard at least 3,000 miles (4,800 km) away. Caused a 5-year volcanic winter. The island had three volcanoes. Perboewatan (410 ft) and Danan (1,480 ft) were destroyed during the eruption, and Rakata (2,667 ft) was half destroyed and the surviving half remains above sea level. In 1928, a new volcano called Anak Krakatoa (1,063 ft) grew above sea level, forming a new island by Rakata's island. |
| 4 | Volcán de Fuego | Guatemala | 1880 | | |
| 4 | Cotopaxi | Ecuador | 1877 | 340 | |
| 4 | Suwanosejima | Japan | 1877 | | |
| 5 | Askja | Iceland | 1875 | | |
| 4 | Grímsvötn | Iceland | 1873 | | |
| 4 | Mount Merapi | Indonesia | 1872 | 200 | |
| 4 | Sinarka | Russia | 1872 | | |
| 4 | Makian | Indonesia | 1861 | 309–326 | |
| 4 | Katla | Iceland | 1860 | | |
| 4 | Volcán de Fuego | Guatemala | 1857 | | |
| 4 | Hokkaidō Koma-ga-take | Japan | 1856 | 20 | |
| 5 | Shiveluch | Russia | 1854 | | |
| 4 | Mount Usu | Japan | 1853 | | |
| 4 | Fonualei | Tonga | 1846 | | |
| 4 | Hekla | Iceland | 1845 | | |
| 5 | Mount Agung | Indonesia | 1843 | | |
| 5 | Cosigüina | Nicaragua | 1835 | | |
| 5-6 | Zavaritski Caldera | Kuril Islands | 1831 | | |
| 4 | Klyuchevskaya Sopka | Russia | 1829 | | |
| 4 | Avachinsky | Russia | 1827 | | |
| 4 | Kelud | Indonesia | 1826 | | |
| 5 | Galunggung | Indonesia | 1822 | 4,011 | Lahars killed more than 4,000 people. |
| 4 | Mount Usu | Japan | 1822 | 50 | |
| 4 | Volcán de Colima | Mexico | 1818 | | |
| 4 | Mount Raung | Indonesia | 1817 | | |
| 7 | Mount Tambora | Indonesia | 1815 | 71,000–250,100+ | Largest and deadliest volcanic eruption in recorded history. Caused the "Year Without a Summer" in 1816. |
| 4 | Mount Mayon | Philippines | 1814 | 1,200 | The town of Cagsawa was buried and approximately 1,200 people were killed. |
| 4 | Suwanosejima | Japan | 1813 | | |
| 4 | Mount Awu | Indonesia | 1812 | | |
| 4 | La Soufrière | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1812 | 56 | |
| 6 | Unknown source | Unknown | 1808 | | Greenland and Antarctic ice samples suggest an undocumented eruption roughly half the magnitude of Mount Tambora occurred, contributing to the 1810s being the coldest decade in at least 500 years. Recent searches of documents suggest that it may have taken place in South Western Pacific Ocean around 4 December 1808 and observed in Colombia from 11 December 1808. It is also known that the Chilean Putana volcano had a major eruption around this time with an approximate date of 1810 (with a 10-year margin of error), but is located 22 degrees south. |
| 4 | Tutupaca | Peru | 1802 | | |

### 18th century

| VEI | Volcano | Country | Year | Fatalities | Notes |
| 5 | Mount St. Helens | Washington, United States | 1800 | | |
| 4 | Witori | Papua New Guinea | 1800 | | |
| 4 | Mount Westdahl | Alaska, United States | 1795 | | |
| 4 | San Martin Tuxtla | Mexico | 1793 | | |
| 4 | Kilauea | Hawaii, United States | 1790 | 400+ | Keanakakoi eruption |
| 4 | Mount Etna | Italy | 1787 | | |
| 4 | Laki | Iceland | 1783–1784 | 10,000+ | 1783–1784 eruption of Laki |
| 4 | Mount Asama | Japan | 1783 | 1,500–1,624 | Tenmei eruption |
| 4 | Raikoke | Russia | 1778 | 15 | |
| 4 | Mount Usu | Japan | 1769 | | |
| 4 | Cotopaxi | Ecuador | 1768 | | |
| 4 | Hekla | Iceland | 1766–1768 | | |
| 4 | Miyake-jima | Japan | 1763 | | |
| 4 | Mount Pavlof | Alaska, United States | 1762 | | |
| 4 | Makian | Indonesia | 1760–1761 | | |
| 4 | El Jorullo | Mexico | 1759–1774 | | |
| 5 | Katla | Iceland | 1755 | | |
| 5 | Taal | Philippines | 1754 | 50-60+ | Erupted continuously for 200 days and buried the Town of Taal on the shore of the lake |
| 4 | Taal | Philippines | 1749 | | |
| 4 | Cotopaxi | Ecuador | 1744 | | |
| 4 | Oshima–Ōshima | Japan | 1741–1742 | 1,467–2,033 | 1741 eruption of Oshima–Ōshima and the Kampo tsunami |
| 5 | Mount Tarumae | Japan | 1739 | | |
| 4 | Volcán de Fuego | Guatemala | 1737 | | |
| 4 | Öræfajökull | Iceland | 1727–1728 | | |
| 5 | Katla | Iceland | 1721 | | |
| 4 | Cerro Bravo | Colombia | 1720 | | |
| 4 | Raoul Island | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | 1720 | | |
| 4 | Volcán de Fuego | Guatemala | 1717 | | |
| 4 | Taal | Philippines | 1716 | | |
| 5 | Mount Fuji | Japan | 1707 | | Hōei eruption of Mount Fuji |

### 17th century

| VEI | Volcano | Country | Year | Fatalities | Notes |
| 4 | Hekla | Iceland | 1693 | | |
| 5 | Tangkoko | Indonesia | 1680 | | |
| 5 | Mount Gamkonora | Indonesia | 1673 | | |
| 5 | Mount Tarumae | Japan | 1667 | | |
| 5 | Mount Usu | Japan | 1663 | | |
| 4 | Katla | Iceland | 1660–1661 | | |
| 4 | Guagua Pichincha | Ecuador | 1660 | | |
| 6 | Long Island | Papua New Guinea | 1660 | | |
| 5 | Shiveluch | Russia | 1652 | | |
| 4 | Kolumbo | Santorini, Greece | 1650 | 70 | |
| 4 | Makian | Indonesia | 1646 | | |
| 4 | Kelud | Indonesia | 1641 | | |
| 5 | Mount Melibengoy | Philippines | 1640–1641 | | |
| 5 | Hokkaido Komagatake | Japan | 1640 | 700 | A partial summit collapse caused a tsunami that killed 700 people. |
| 4 | Raung | Indonesia | 1638 | | |
| 5 | Mount Vesuvius | Italy | 1631 | 4,000+ | 1631 eruption of Mount Vesuvius |
| 5 | Furnas | Azores, Portugal | 1630 | | |
| 4 | Raoul Island | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | 1630 | | |
| 5 | Katla | Iceland | 1625 | | |
| 4 | Volcán de Colima | Mexico | 1622 | | |
| 4 | Katla | Iceland | 1612 | | |
| 4 | Volcán de Colima | Mexico | 1606 | | |

### 16th century

| VEI | Volcano | Country | Year | Fatalities | Notes |
| 4 | Suwanosejima | Japan | 1600 | | |
| 6 | Huaynaputina | Peru | 1600 | 1,500 | 1600 eruption of Huaynaputina, Russian famine of 1601–1603 |
| 4 | Hekla | Iceland | 1597 | | |
| 4 | Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia | 1595 | 636 | This eruption caused lahars, which traveled down the valleys of the nearby Gualí and Lagunillas rivers, clogging up the water, killing fish and destroying vegetation. More than 600 people died as a result of the lahar. |
| 5 | Raung | Indonesia | 1593 | | |
| 5 | Kelud | Indonesia | 1586 | 10,000+ | |
| 4 | Volcán de Colima | Mexico | 1585 | | |
| 4 | Volcán de Fuego | Guatemala | 1581 | | |
| 4 | Katla | Iceland | 1580 | | |
| 6 | Billy Mitchell | Papua New Guinea | 1580 | | |
| 5 | Água de Pau | Azores, Portugal | 1563 | | |
| 4 | Katla | Iceland | 1550 | | |
| 4 | Cotopaxi | Ecuador | 1534 | | |
| 4 | Cotopaxi | Ecuador | 1532 | | |
| 4 | Hekla | Iceland | 1510 | | |
| 4 | Katla | Iceland | 1500 | | |

## Smaller eruptions resulting in fatalities or significant damage

| VEI | Volcano | Country | Year | Fatalities | Notes |
| 3 | Guagua Pichincha | Ecuador | 2000 | 2 | A phreatic eruption on 12 March killed two volcanologists working on the lava dome. |
| 3 | Soufrière Hills | Montserrat | 1997 | 19 | A major eruption on 25 June 1997 caused pyroclastic flows to move at 60–100 mph, which killed 19 people and destroyed towns. |
| 2 | Kanlaon | Philippines | 1996 | 3 | 24 mountain climbers hiked the volcano when it erupted without warning on 10 August 1996, resulting in 3 fatalities. |
| 1 | Yakedake | Japan | 1995 | 4 | Four people at a highway construction site were killed by a hydrothermal explosion on 11 February 1995. |
| 2 | Mount Merapi | Indonesia | 1994 | 64 | A pyroclastic flow on 22 November 1994 killed 64 people. |
| 3 | Rinjani | Indonesia | 1994 | 30 | A cold lahar from the summit of Rinjani on 3 November 1994 travelled down the Kokok Jenggak River, killing 30 people. |
| 2 | Mayon | Philippines | 1993 | 79 | Pyroclastic flows killed 79 people. |
| 2 | Galeras | Colombia | 1993 | 9 | Galeras tragedy |
| 2 | Karangetang | Indonesia | 1992 | 6 | Six people were killed by a pyroclastic flow from an eruption on 18 May 1992. |
| 1 | Mount Unzen | Japan | 1991 | 43 | A destructive and fatal eruption on 3 June 1991 at 4:08 pm caused the first large-scale pyroclastic flow, unprecedented at the time, which killed 43 people in the evacuation zone. Among these were French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft, as well as American geologist Harry Glicken. The other 40 fatalities consisted largely of those involved in the mass media, as well as firefighters, police officers, farmers and taxi drivers. |
| 3 | Mount Redoubt | Alaska, United States | 1989–1990 | | Second costliest volcanic eruption in United States history. Caused engine failure of all four engines on KLM Flight 867 after it flew through the ash cloud. |
| 3 | Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia | 1985 | 23,000 | Armero tragedy |
| 3 | Mount Etna | Italy | 1979 | 9 | A sudden phreatic explosion killed 9 tourists |
| 2 | Mount Marapi | Indonesia | 1979 | 80 | A landslide on 30 April 1979 killed 80 people, damaged five villages and destroyed farmland. |
| 1 | Dieng Volcanic Complex | Indonesia | 1979 | 149 | 149 people died of gas poisoning in Pekisaran Village on 20 February 1979. |
| 1 | Mount Nyiragongo | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1977 | 70 | Lava flows killed 70 people and left 800 people homeless. About 1,200 hectares of agricultural land was destroyed. |
| 3 | Eldfell | Iceland | 1973 | 1 | |
| 2 | Villarrica | Chile | 1971 | 15–30 | |
| 3 | Mount Hudson | Chile | 1971 | 5 | Lahars killed 5 people and many more were evacuated. |
| 2 | Didicas | Philippines | 1969 | 3 | Triggered a Volcanic tsunami that killed 3 fishermen. |
| 3 | Volcán Arenal | Costa Rica | 1968 | 87 | On Monday, 29 July 1968, at 7:30 am, the Arenal Volcano suddenly and violently erupted. The eruptions continued unabated for several days, burying over 15 square kilometers (5.8 sq mi) under rocks, lava and ash. The eruptions killed 87 people and buried 3 small villages – Tabacón, Pueblo Nuevo and San Luís – and affected more than 232 square kilometers (90 sq mi) of land. Crops were spoiled, property was ruined, and large numbers of livestock were killed. |
| 1 | Dieng Volcanic Complex | Indonesia | 1964 | 114 | |
| 2 | Villarrica | Chile | 1964 | 25 | |
| 3 | Surtsey | Iceland | 1963–1967 | |
| 2 | Bayonnaise Rocks | Japan | 1952 | 31 | An eruption on 18 September 1952 killed 31 researchers and crewmen aboard the Maritime Safety Agency survey ship No.5 Kaiyo-Maru. |
| 3 | Hibok-Hibok | Philippines | 1951 | 500-2,000+ | This eruption was a turning point for the Philippine government to establish a dedicated agency to focus on volcanoes and its activities. It led to the creation of COMVOL (Commission on Volcanology) which would later be PHILVOLCS. |
| 3 | Villarrica | Chile | 1948 | 23 | Mudflows buried 1000 hectares of arable land and forest and destroyed numerous buildings. 23 people were killed and 31 others were missing. |
| 2 | Dieng Volcanic Complex | Indonesia | 1944 | 117 | |
| 3 | Mount Vesuvius | Italy | 1944 | 20 | Most recent eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Eruption took place during liberation of Italy by American and British soldiers. Destroyed original village of San Sebastiano al Vesuvo. Extreme damage to the city of Naples in form of ash and building collapses. |
| 1 | Dieng Volcanic Complex | Indonesia | 1939 | 10 | |
| 3 | Mount Merapi | Indonesia | 1930–1931 | 1,369 | |
| 2 | Stromboli | Italy | 1930 | 4 | |
| 3 | Paluweh | Indonesia | 1928 | 160+ | A volcanic landslide triggered a tsunami 5–10 m high, killing more than 160 people. |
| 2 | Dieng Volcanic Complex | Indonesia | 1928 | 40 | |
| 1 | Mount Etna | Italy | 1928 | | Effusive eruption resulting in the complete destruction of the municipality of Mascali. |
| 3 | Lassen Peak | California, United States | 1915 | | First volcano in the Cascades Volcanic Arc heading northwards, possibly the first volcanic eruption recorded using motion picture camera. Pyroclastic flows caused massive fires and evidence of the eruption still present in form of unusual growth patterns of trees as of 2020, 105 years later and charred trees. Area now forbidden to settle in as it is now Lassen Volcanic National Park. |
| 3 | Taal | Philippines | 1911 | 1,335 | Base surge and tsunami inside the Taal lake caldera killed thousands of people living near the Taal Volcano island. The ash reached as far as Manila. |
| 3 | Tori-shima | Japan | 1902 | 150 | |
| 3 | Mount Awu | Indonesia | 1892 | 1,532 | |
| 2 | Ritter Island | Papua New Guinea | 1888 | 500–3000 | 1888 Ritter Island eruption and tsunami |
| 2 | Ruang | Indonesia | 1871 | 416 | 1871 Ruang eruption and tsunami |
| 3 | Dubbi | Eritrea | 1861 | 106 | |
| 3 | Mount Awu | Indonesia | 1856 | 2,806 | |
| 3 | Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia | 1845 | 1,000 | |
| 2 | Mount Etna | Italy | 1843 | 56 | |
| 2 | Mount Unzen | Japan | 1792 | 15,000 | 1792 Unzen earthquake and tsunami |
| 2 | Dieng Volcanic Complex | Indonesia | 1786 | 38 | Ground fissuring destroyed the village of Jamping, killing 38 people. |
| 3 | Gamalama | Indonesia | 1775 | 1,300 | |
| 3 | Mount Papandayan | Indonesia | 1772 | 3,000 | An eruption in 1772 caused the northeast flank to collapse producing a catastrophic debris avalanche that destroyed 40 villages and killed nearly 3,000 people. |
| ? | Tseax Cone | Canada | 1700 | 2,000 | |
| 3 | Mount Etna | Italy | 1669 | | 1669 eruption of Mount Etna |
| 3 | Monte Nuovo (Phlegraean Fields) | Italy | 1538 | 24 | |